Don Criqui, master of ceremonies for Friday night’s Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees dinner, had a couple of pretty good lines about 90-year-old Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson, a member of the Class of 2009.

One of the biggest themes leading up to the Hall of Fame, next to the incoming class, is the list of players not in the Hall of Fame. Put a microphone in front of a player and he’ll instantly start campaigning for teammates who belong in the Hall of Fame.

Last year at this time, Mike Haynes was just another member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame making it back here for the enshrinement weekend festivities. It’s always a big deal… but Haynes had no idea that last year’s visit would be a life-altering experience.

Lining up against Deacon Jones seems like an imposing task. Doing it in your first start as right tackle, in front of 80,000 people in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with the future Hall of Fame defensive end barking at you — nearly impossible.

Baltimore Colts Hall of Fame WR/RB Lenny Moore received quite a surprise when LaDainian Tomlinson approached his record for scoring a touchdown in 18 consecutive appearances in 2005. Moore was not surprised that Tomlinson was approaching his record. Moore was surprised that he even had the record.

Bad news for some of the fringe players waiting on the Hall of Fame, like Cris Carter, Shannon Sharpe and Andre Reed. That wait could become even longer as Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice will be taking two of the available spots in the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has many traditions. The busts, the gold jackets … and taking bets on who will be the fastest to break down and cry during their induction speech. Former Eagles WR Tommy McDonald was determined not to cry when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998. Although tears of laughter likely rolled down the cheeks of many Hall of Famers.

There are more than 80 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame here for this weekend’s enshrinement festivities, almost all of them staying at the McKinley Grand Hotel in downtown Canton. Which happens to be where the NFL Auctions crew has set up shop.

Bills owner Ralph Wilson chatted live on NFL.com on Tuesday, saying that with a little luck, the Bills have the talent to win now. In fact, he’ll be disappointed if the team doesn’t reach the playoffs this season.